PANSHANGER
Rob Sloane enjoys a country fly fishing retreat.

My birthday treat this year was a weekend at Panshanger fishing the Lower Macquarie River near Longford in Tasmania’s northern midlands. This rural retreat offers self-contained accommodation in a private wing of the historic homestead and is ideal for couples with a shared interest in historic properties, country living, rambling gardens and/or trout fishing.

There are lots of local activities for the non fishing partner and some ten kilometres of easily accessible river bank for the fly fisher to explore—several days fishing without having to fish the same water. Guests are given a map of the estate and its internal network of roads which provide private access to the river bank at four or five prime locations.

Only two guests (ideally a couple) are housed at any one time in spacious and elegant rooms, tastefully decorated and furnished with antiques. The fully equipped kitchen comes complete with picnic basket, thermos and plastic wineglasses for that lazy picnic by the river. The surrounding parks, gardens and courtyards are handsomely maintained and there are many pathways and hidden corners to explore.

Although mostly bordered by open tussock and pasture banks where it is hard to escape the wind, the river meanders through the property almost looping around on itself so there is always a sheltered edge to be found. The Lake River and Macquarie River have already converged before reaching Panshanger and here they are joined by the tailrace water from Brumbys Creek, adding to the fly fishing diversity.

We found the trout to be plentiful, though easily spooked, with resident browns hugging the banks and even ‘tailing’ in shallow bays at evening time. There are rainbows too in the faster water, though our catch was confined to browns from ‘guide’s pounders’ to about 2 lb in weight. The weather was less than perfect with no hatch but the trout still took dry flies drifted close along the bank—Black Spinners, Red Tags and Black Deerhairs (evening) all took fish.

Eleven fat river trout will be very hard to beat next birthday. For bookings contact Maree Mills on 03 6397 6500